Improvement in vehicle-springs



W. P. HANSELL. Vehicle-Spring.

No. 212,-688. Patented Feb'. 25,1879.

' I lll/l verti ble spr-in fr.

UNITED a' STATES PATENT OEEIcEa VALTER I. HANSELL, OF` PITTSB'URG,PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENTFIN VEHICLE-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,6SS, datedFcbruary25, 1879 application :tiled December '27, 1878.

vTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVALTER P. HANsn-LL, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Vehicle- Springs, of which thevfollovwing is aspecification y y y My invention is a vehicle-spring adapted to actunder varying' pressures, and for rendering the spring' non-acting foruse in carrying solid heavy bodies-such as coal, stone, iron, Sac.-where a spring-body is not necessary. rlhese two objects are effected bya convertible spring or an adjustable stop device in which the springfunction is rendered active ornon-active, as may be desired, andwithout removing any of the parts which constitute the sprin rlwo hollowcylinders are adapted for telescoping, in connection with separate andindependent springs, adapted to be brought into action under varyingpressures, and :in which the lower spring, seated in the bottom of thelower cylinder, extends a suitable height, but some distance below itstop, and bears the greatest pressure of the load, while the upper springis seated upon an offset or shoulder of said lower cylinder, at or nearthe top of the bottom spring, but independent of it, and bears the lightpressure. NVith the spring thus arranged I combine an interior plug oradjustable stop device, adapted to be lengthened or shortened to renderthe springs active or nonactive, and to support the body solidly incarrying very heavy and hard substances without injury to the springs.

Referring' to the drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of avehicle-sprin g einbracing my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section ofthe same as adapted for action under varying pressures 5 Fig. 3, asimilar section ofthe spring as adapted for non-action under heavyloads; Fig. 4, the central plug-adjusting device, and

Fig. 5 a top view ofthe lower cylinder and its springs.

Two hollow cylinders are used with my con- The lower part, A,`is securedto the axle, and the upper part, B, is secured to the body of thevehicle, and works within the lower part, so as to leave an annularspace between them. Within the base part, A, two

springs are seated-one, C, in the bottom or closed end, rising aboutmidway the height of said lower part, and the other, D, upon an interiorshoulder, offset, or loose tube, E, of said lower part, at or near thetop of the lower spring, and, rising above the lower part or cylinder,surrounds the upper part 0r cylinder, and upon which its cap bears.

These springs, thus arranged, are independent of each other. The upperone yields under light pressures; but'this position of the spring may bereversed and produce the same results. In the normal position of thesetwo cylinders the upper one does not rest upon the lower spring, butisseparated from'i t some distance within the lower cylinder. The uppercylinder, however, is vertically coincident with the lower spring', andbea-rs upon it when the upper spring is compressed by it under the load,thus bringing into action both springs adapted for varying pressures,and which increases the resistancev accordi n g to the strength of thestrongest spring. The springs however, may be of equal strength; and ifso, their capacity will be increased one-half. The upper spring may bethe shortest and strongest, in which case the upper cylinder part mustbe made long enough to bear constantly upon the lower weaker spring; nordoes it matter which spring acts iirst.

' To render the springs non-acting, I combine with them a center stopdevice, consisting of an adjustable and a iixed part. The adjustablepart I prefer to iit within the upper cylinder, and the Xed part at thebottom of the lower cylinder; but these may be reversed. In whicheverway they are used, one part, F, has a tongue, G, and the other part, H,has right-angled mortises or slots I J in its end, adapted to fit oversaid tongue. These niortises are of different depths, so that by placingthe slot, I, having the greatest depth over the tongue, the functions ofthe springs will be active, as shown in Fig. 25 but by placing the slot,J, of least depth over the tongue, the

springs will be rendered nonactive for carry-A ing loads of dead-weight,where a spring-body is not needed.

The spring can be used or desired, by a simple change in not, as may bethe vertical adjustment of the interior plug device, whereby a solidbearing is obtained for the body of the vehicle, by the extension orlengthening out of the plug or movable part, so that the cap of theupper cylinder will rest upon the plug and the parts be fixed solidlyunder the load; or, by shortening the length of the plug device, the twosprings will act clear under varying pressures.

The vertical adjustment of the moving part may be made from the side ofthe wagon or from the top of the upper cylinder by a rod, K, passingfrom the plug through the cylindercap plates, as shown, and by liftingsaid rod until the two parts are separated the lifted part can be turnedhorizontally to shift the mortises, as may be required to make theadjustment.

The two-pa-rt plug device can be made longer or shorter, according totheheight of the spring, and their length, when extended, may be such asto allow the upper or both springs to be partially compressed under theload before the vehicle-bod y rests solidly upon the plug device. Y rIhesprings are arranged in any suitable way to support the body.

In Fig. 3 the upper cylinder-cap is shown by dotted lines as restingupon the movable and fixed parts solidlynnder very heavy loads.

I claiml, The combination, with coiled springs and telescopingcylinders, of an interior adjustable stop device, consisting of amovable and a fixed part, adapted to be lengthened and shortened withrespect to the height of the cylinders, to render the spring active ornon-active, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a spring of telescoping cylinders, an

interior adjustable stop device, consisting of a movable and a fixedpart, one part havingv` a tongue and the other right-angled slots, ofdifferent depths,whereby to lengthen or to shorten the movable part, torender the spring active or non-active, substantially as herein setforth.

3. The combination, with telescoping cylinders and an interiorlengthening and shortening stop device of two parts, adapted to renderthe spring active or non-active, of a handle-rod xed to the movable partof said stop device for the purpose of adjusting it, substantially asherein set forth.

4. In a vehicle-spring consisting of coiled springs supported inindependent seats in the lower part of telescoping cylinders, and aninterior lengthening or shortening stop device of two parts, the movablepart of said devices adapted to have a vertical and a turning adjustmentupon the fixed part within one part of the cylinder, substantially asherein set forth.

5. A convertible spring consisting of telescoping cylinders adapted toact with springs supported upon independent seats in the lower cylinder,an interior lengthening .or shortening` stop device of two parts, torender the spring active or non-active, as may be desired, and ahandle-rod by which to effect the adjustment of the movable part of thesaid device, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

WALTER P. HANSELL.

Witnesses:

W. H. LAWRENCE, CALVIN BARTLEY.

